This season, Christmas hairstyles trade rigid, flat-ironed lengths for soft, face-framing layers and glossy natural texture that move. Curtain bangs and lived-in color keep the festive look current without tipping into costume territory.
Here are 21 ways to wear your hair for the holidays, from quick five-minute fixes to salon-grade updos. Whether your hair is fine or thick, short or long, there is a style here that holds through dinner and dancing. We also solve the real struggles: fine strands that fall flat by dessert, a visible grow-out line, or a fringe that refuses to sit.
Elegant Blonde Updo With Fairy Lights
The design hinges on the fairy lights, not the braids. Soft blonde waves are swept into an updo with a side parting, and a set of battery-operated warm fairy lights is woven through the sections so they peek out. The lights add glow without weight, which matters for medium-density hair at mid-back length. A side parting and the soft wispy bangs soften square and oval face shapes equally.
Ask your stylist for: braided updo with fairy lights, soft waves, side parting. The stylist secures each light cluster with a bobby pin and finishes with a flexible hold spray so the strands stay put without looking stiff. Long layers throughout give the braided sections enough grip to hold the lights in place. This is a salon-only project, given the wiring and pinning involved, but the result is deliberate without being delicate.
Red Wavy Updo With Holly Berry Accessory
Does a single accessory make the style, or does the style need the right texture to carry it? Here the thick, wavy red hair provides the foundation. A braided updo with loose curls cascading down the back creates a solid base for a holly-and-berry clip, and the middle part keeps the shape balanced. Thick hair at mid-back length holds the braid securely without slippage.
Ask your stylist for: braided updo with loose curls, holly and berry hair accessory. A smoothing serum applied before styling tames the natural wave enough to keep the braid clean without flattening the texture. The warm red undertone in the hair complements the green and red of the accessory without competing with it, which is why the combination works on its own terms.
Blonde Braided Crown With Pearl Accents
A full braided crown can feel heavy on fine hair, but this half-up version lets the rest fall in loose waves, which makes it a better fit for thick, mid-back length strands. The middle part keeps the crown symmetrical, and the pearl and bead accents are woven in at intervals. Ask your stylist for: half up half down braided crown with loose waves, pearl and bead accents. A texturizing spray on the loose waves gives them enough grip to hold shape without a full reset the next day.
Ash Blonde Fishtail Braid With Satin Bow
A fishtail braid needs two things: even sections and a texture that won’t slip. The wavy, thick mid-back length hair here provides the grip, and the ash blonde highlights add enough tonal variation that the braid reads as dimensional rather than flat. Ask your stylist for: fishtail braid with wavy texture, cream satin bow. The bow is tied at the end rather than pinned mid-braid, so the braid itself does the structural work. A middle parting keeps the front clean, and the lack of bangs means the attention stays on the braid’s alternating pattern.
Honey Blonde Intricate Braided Updo
The complexity here is in the layering of braids, not the number of pins. Honey blonde hair at mid-back length is parted in the middle and pulled back into an updo built from multiple interlocking braids, each one secured separately before being woven into the next. Pearl-like pins mark the intersections without holding the whole structure. Ask your stylist for: intricate braided updo, pearl pins, middle part. A finishing spray keeps the strands from loosening during an evening out, but the real longevity comes from the braids being tight enough at the start. Wavy, thick hair at this length has enough texture to grip itself, so it holds longer than straight hair would. A trim every eight weeks keeps the ends clean enough for the braid pattern to read clearly.
Reddish Blonde High Braided Bun With Accessory
That ornate blue and gold piece is the anchor for a high braided bun, ideal for a holiday formal event. The reddish blonde tone picks up warm light from the tree behind you, which is the effect you want at a Christmas gala. This style suits thick, wavy hair, and the side parting with swept bangs softens round and square faces. Ask your stylist for: high braided bun, swept bangs, ornate blue and gold accessory. Secure the bun tightly with pins and a strong-hold spray so the accessory stays put through dinner and dancing. The side-swept bangs will need a trim every four to six weeks to keep their shape.
Blonde Bubble Braid With Satin Bows
A bubble braid is just a ponytail with delusions of grandeur, and that’s precisely why it works for Christmas parties. The technique involves securing the tail with clear elastics at two-inch intervals, then gently tugging each segment to create the rounded bubble effect. Small satin bows at each elastic finish the look without adding weight or bulk. This style needs thick, straight, mid-back length hair, and the middle parting suits most face shapes. Ask your stylist for: bubble braid with satin bows, middle part. Use clear elastics for a seamless look, and plan on a trim every eight to ten weeks to keep the ends healthy enough for the tugging.
Brown Half-Up Half-Down With Burgundy Bow
The large burgundy bow becomes the focal point here, so the rest of the style stays simple. Half-up, half-down with voluminous curls works best on thick, wavy hair at mid-back length, because the weight of the curls keeps the lower section from falling flat. The middle parting is classic, and the blonde highlights add dimension that reflects light during a holiday dinner. Ask your stylist for: half-up half-down with curls, large burgundy bow. Curl the lengths with a large barrel iron and secure the top section firmly with pins so the bow does not droop by the time dessert arrives. This is a salon-leaning style, but the bow hides any imperfections at the crown.
Black Curly Half-Up Half-Down With Red Ribbons
It’s not a simple pony with ribbons, it’s a braided, curled construction that looks like a gift you forgot to unwrap. The top section is pulled into intricate braids that meet at the crown, while the rest falls in voluminous curls with red ribbons woven through and tied into small bows. This is a salon-level build that requires professional skill. Ask your stylist for: half-up half-down with braids and curls, red ribbons. At home, you can approximate it with a curl-defining cream and a diffuser, but the braided crown and ribbon placement are where a second pair of hands earns its keep. Thick, curly hair at mid-back length handles the volume best.
Dark Brown Updo With Rose Gold Highlights
The rose gold highlights are the quiet part of this updo, and the decorative pins are the loud part. A braided and twisted bun sits at the back, with soft waves around the face and a few tendrils escaping at the nape. The pins, with white and orange accents, add sparkle but they can snag or get heavy after a few hours, so that’s the trade-off. Ask your stylist for: braided and twisted updo, rose gold highlights, decorative pins. Use a texturizing spray for grip and push each pin firmly into the bun, not just through the top layer. This one needs a salon visit to get the braids and pins to sit right, and the rose gold tone will need a gloss every six to eight weeks to stay bright.
Braided Crown Twisted Bun With Pins
The braided crown here does not stop at the hairline, it continues into a twisted bun piled high with rose gold highlights. This is a style for thick, wavy hair that can carry the volume without collapsing, and it suits most face shapes since the height balances the proportions. Ask your stylist for a braided crown into a twisted bun with decorative pins, and keep the pins small so they sparkle. After styling, loosely pull a few tendrils around the nape and mist with a flexible hold spray, because a rigid finish would fight the soft waves this design relies on.
Reddish Blonde Updo With Ornaments
Ever wonder how some updos look elaborate without looking fussy? The trick is layers. This reddish-blonde updo starts with mid-back length, wavy hair and builds the volume through braided sections, with small gold ornaments and flowers tucked along the crown. The side-swept bangs soften round and square faces, while the height at the top adds length to shorter face shapes. Ask your colorist for an elaborate updo with braids, gold ornaments, and side-swept bangs, and have the ornaments secured firmly into the styled hair. A shine spray over the finished style adds gloss without weighing down the waves, and this one is made for a Christmas ball or a holiday formal where the lights are low and the sparkle is expected.
Vintage Brown Updo With Ribbon Bows
Rolled curls hold their shape for a full evening, but they need the right base to start. This vintage brown updo uses tightly rolled sections pinned high on the head, with white and black ribbon bows threaded through the design and curled tendrils left loose around the face. The tendrils are what keep it from feeling like a museum piece, they soften the structure for most face shapes. Ask your stylist for a vintage updo with rolled curls and white and black ribbon bows, and add the bows last so they sit on top of the set. A strong-hold hairspray keeps the curls defined, and because the ribbons sit on the surface, they can be adjusted without disturbing the pins underneath.
Brown Ponytail With Large Velvet Bow
A low ponytail is a reliable choice for holiday styling, and this one gets its festive moment from a large dark red velvet bow anchored at the base. The collarbone-length brown hair is straight with subtle highlights, and the middle parting keeps the front clean. Ask your stylist for a low ponytail with a large dark red velvet bow, and smooth the hair with a brush before tying so the surface stays sleek. Fine to medium textures work best here because the bow provides the visual focus. Center the bow at the nape and it holds all evening, no touch-ups required.
Black High Ponytail With Beaded Braid
How do you get a sleek high ponytail to feel festive without adding a single accessory? You braid a section and thread it with small golden beads. The deep black hair is pulled tight and high, with one braided accent running through the ponytail and styled baby hairs laid along the hairline. Ask your stylist for a high ponytail with a beaded braid section and styled baby hairs, and be specific about the placement, the braid should start at the crown and the beads should sit evenly spaced. A strong-hold gel keeps the baby hairs in place and the ponytail smooth, and the middle parting keeps the whole thing symmetrical. This one walks the line between polished and playful, ready for a holiday party or New Year’s Eve.
Black Braided Buns With Festive Tinsel
Two braided buns at the nape already make a strong statement, but weaving festive tinsel into the braids turns them into a holiday centerpiece. The coily, thick black texture holds the braided structure well, and the gelled edges keep the whole look polished through a long party night. Ask your stylist for: double braided buns with tinsel, gelled edges. Use a strong-hold gel for the edges and weave the tinsel carefully into each braid so it catches the tree lights without snagging.
Short Black Braided Updo With Pearl Piece
A braided updo on short, coily black hair requires a solid grip and a steady hand, which is why this is a salon booking. The hair is slicked back from the face, and a floral and pearl hairpiece adds the festive accent without competing with the braid’s texture. Ask your stylist for: braided updo with floral and pearl accessory, slicked back. A smoothing balm applied before styling gives the sleek finish the look demands.
Textured Brown Updo With Loose Tendrils
A textured bun on medium-density brown hair relies on soft waves and loose tendrils at the nape for its undone charm, but that undone quality comes with a trade-off. The tendrils tend to work themselves free over the course of an evening, so a light-hold hairspray is your best friend after styling. Ask your stylist for: textured updo with loose tendrils framing the nape. Gently pull out the tendrils by hand once the bun is pinned; any more aggressive tugging and you will be starting over.
Blonde Collarbone Waves With Gold Accessory
Can a single gold leaf accessory carry an entire Christmas hairstyle? When the base is collarbone-length blonde hair with soft curtain bangs and loose waves, yes, it can. The side parting and subtle highlights add dimension, and the accessory sits above the ear without sliding out. Ask your stylist for: collarbone length loose waves, curtain bangs, gold leaf accessory. A large-barrel curling iron creates the waves, and a round brush shapes the curtain bangs in minutes.
Brown Messy Bun With Jeweled Headband
A messy bun on chin-length brown hair is one of the few Christmas hairstyles that actually takes less time to do than it takes to describe. Wispy bangs frame the face, and a sparkling jeweled headband transforms the whole thing from “I gave up” to “I intended this.” Ask your stylist for: messy bun, wispy bangs, jeweled headband. To build it, spray dry shampoo into the roots for grip, twist the hair into a loose bun at the nape, and slide the headband over the styled hair last.
Creative Holiday Hairstyles
The slicked-back front and half-updo construction put all the attention on the thick, wavy mid-back length and that black bow, which is exactly the point. This is one of those creative holiday hairstyles where the accessory does the talking, so the styling stays simple: pull the front sections back, secure them low, and let the bow sit where the ponytail meets the crown.
It suits anyone with medium brown hair and enough texture to hold a wave without turning flat by mid-party. Ask your stylist for long layers with no bangs, then experiment with different bows and braiding techniques for festive flair. The hold depends on how tight you pin the front, but a few bobby pins and a texturizing spray keep it in place through dessert.
Final Thoughts
For a low-maintenance festive look, pick a braided updo with a statement accessory or a polished low ponytail. For maximum impact, choose an intricate braid or a voluminous updo that needs a stylist’s hands. Fine hair holds a sleek bun better than loose waves; thick hair carries a crown braid without extra pins.
- Use a heat protectant spray before heat-styling.
- Refresh braids with a light mist of texturizing spray.
- Secure updos with strong-hold hairspray and matching bobby pins.
- Tone blonde shades every 6-8 weeks to keep them bright.
- Trim split ends every 8-10 weeks to keep styles crisp.
Celebrate the season with a hairstyle that shines.
